| A 2006 newspaper report and a 2005 Princeton study | | | | Michigan is the worst in the country, and the high |
| spell costly problems for the students and residents of | | | | percentage of drop-outs is directly linked. |
| Detroit Schools. In 2006 USA Today reported on a | | | | Over 50% of the inmates in Michigan jails are high |
| study funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates | | | | school drop-outs. And it costs the state over $29,000 |
| Foundation. It said that several of the nation's largest | | | | a year just to house them. 40% of parents on public |
| school districts had less than a 50% graduation rate. | | | | assistance in the state are also drop-outs of Detroit |
| Detroit Schools, the 11th largest district in the country, | | | | Schools (or other schools). |
| was dead last with an appalling 21.7%. | | | | The problem gets worse when race is included as a |
| Of course, the study spurred heated debates | | | | factor. In fact, the Princeton study estimated the |
| regarding its accuracy and impartiality. In 2005 the | | | | increase in personal income that could be attained by |
| state and city placed the Detroit Schools' graduation | | | | raising the "educational attainment" of minority groups |
| rate at about 44-48%, depending on the source. Some | | | | to that of white students by 2020. It found that |
| of the discrepancy is accounted for by looking at | | | | students in Michigan and Detroit Schools would gain |
| "timely graduation rates" versus those who graduate in | | | | over $3 billion in additional total personal income. The |
| more than the four-year time period. Either way you | | | | question is how to make it happen. |
| look at it, no one in Detroit Schools is happy with it. | | | | The racial gap has existed for years and it poses a |
| High School drop-outs cost Detroit Schools, and the | | | | huge problem for the Detroit Schools. Funding for adult |
| city's residents, money. Lots of money. A 2005 | | | | education was slashed by over $50 million two years |
| Princeton University study found that a high school | | | | ago. Now the Detroit Schools are struggling to meet |
| drop-out, on average, costs the county $260,000. It | | | | mandates for class size and proficiency put in place |
| estimated that Michigan drop-outs stand to lose over | | | | by the 2001 No Child Left Behind Act. |
| $11 billion in total lifetime income by foregoing the | | | | And in another racially heated move, the US Supreme |
| diploma. The reasons are clear. | | | | Court recalled the Brown case that had allowed the |
| Whether you look at the Detroit Schools, or any other | | | | use of race as a factor to determine school |
| district, the patterns are the same. High School | | | | attendance, and to attempt to integrate schools. This is |
| graduates make more money, live longer lives, have | | | | a touchy subject for Detroit Schools, since the 1974 |
| healthier and better educated children, are less likely to | | | | Milliken v. Bradley decision that said desegregation |
| become teen parents, are less likely to commit crimes, | | | | cannot be enforced across district lines. Many |
| and are less like to rely on government social and | | | | residents of Detroit Schools still view that decision as a |
| medical services. The Detroit Schools feel the impact | | | | factor in the resulting "white flight" that has left Detroit |
| of these costs on its high welfare rolls and | | | | Schools a divided and failing district. |
| unemployment rates. The unemployment rate in | | | | |